Half-time sub Ronan Murray scored twice and created the third for Nathan Ellington as Town’s reserves came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Playford Road this afternoon.

The visitors went ahead in the 33rd minute when Matthew Taylor headed home a cross from skipper Olly Lee after a build-up involving George Moncur, son of former Blues loanee John.

Town hit back on 53 through Murray, a half-time sub for Daryl Murphy, who was playing his first game after his pulled hamstring. After good work on the left, the ball was played inside to the Irish youngster who was given time to pick his spot.

Murray made it 2-1 to the Blues on 61 after Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had cut the ball back to him. His first two efforts were blocked by defenders with the keeper already beaten before the Irish U21 international finally rammed it over the line.

The one-time Torquay loanee continued his impressive half by creating Town’s third six minutes later, sending in a cross which Nathan Ellington volleyed home at the far post. West Ham pulled a goal back in the 71st minute via a Freddie Sears shot.

Trialist Teddy Bjarnason, who TWTD revealed would be at Playford Road this week on Sunday, started in the centre of the midfield and played the full 90 minutes.

Reserves: Cropper, Wabara, Kennedy, Ainsley, Smith (Whight 70), Hyam, Lawrence, Bjarnason, Emmanuel-Thomas (O'Connor 62), Murphy (Murray 46), Ellington (Burke 70).

West Ham: Kurucz, Driver, Brown, Potts, Demel, Wearen (Lletget 62), Moncur, O Lee (Turgott 85), Sears, Taylor (Vose 67), Montenegro. Unused: Larkins, K Lee.

Photo: Action Images

BROTHERBLUE1974 added 14:54 - Nov 22 Why don't we give Murray a game Saturday, don't no what more he has to do to get a chance.
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sonian_blue added 14:55 - Nov 22 This bloke should be on the bench at least each week, reportedly our best finisher at the club. Yet another youngster Jewell ignores. Jewell Out.
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twtd_92 added 14:57 - Nov 22 What more has this lad got to do to get in the first team squad?....PJ is looking for youth and pace and he doesn't even recognise murray..i could be wrong by this but has murray scored 9 goals in his last 9 games for the reserves? surely that is a striker on form...give him a chance just to show what he can do....hes worth a go
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irishtim added 14:57 - Nov 22 give murray a chance please he knows where the back of the net is
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tractorboy2434 added 15:05 - Nov 22 He is not the answer to our problems, we need to sort out our lack of pace in midfield and defence, let's get our priorities right.
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bluelady added 15:10 - Nov 22 tractorboy i agree... the would not be any better than what we have up front now, they are not getting supply! the lad is a natural poacher, without decent supply from midfield he will not score. he is small, so wont work with the hoof ball efforts we often revert to and isnt a hold up player...... i would love to see him in the squad and feel he really will bang them home, but only with the right service.... Now get on connor on the wing in front of Cresswell, overlapping as both can defend and push on and the crosses just may start to come in!

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Reus30 added 15:18 - Nov 22 Well look, sounds as though JET played well, lets get both up top and see what they can do. Hyam maybe in the middle and lets beef up our bench a bit. Drop Bullard, give him a rest put Hyam in, Carson and Martin out wide, Hyam and Bowyer in the centre with two up top.
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Ipswich24 added 15:21 - Nov 22 Good match report minute by minute on hammers website
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pazelle added 15:42 - Nov 22 Great stuff Murray! But you were probably wasting your time! Another one who just isn't one of Jewell's favourites.
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depressed added 15:45 - Nov 22 Great....Ipswich get a win and wer'e not allowed in to watch it.
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cornishnick added 15:54 - Nov 22 Murray should at least go out on loan. A decent prospect, but surely friendlies aren't the way to go. Same with many of our other players. Must take the sharpness off their competitive edge.
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ITFC4daprem added 16:26 - Nov 22 Puts Cropper on the bench give JET, Martin, Hyam, Murray and Lawernson a go
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AlanMahon2011 added 16:28 - Nov 22 If we keep conceding sloppy goals I suggest Keane out.
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lowtit added 16:29 - Nov 22 why would murray be likely to get any more service than chops or scotland?
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Surco72 added 16:57 - Nov 22 Get Hyams energy into the centre of the pitch would allow Bullard and Andrews on more .Murray has to be on the bench to add a different option of sheer pace . Get rid of Leadbitter
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AlanMahon2011 added 17:07 - Nov 22 Sell Bowyer too, he's too old
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Bluetone added 18:40 - Nov 22 Another good game Murray you should be easily able to negotiate a decent contract when the time comes. Probably not at PR though unless PJ has been moved on by then.
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h32 added 19:18 - Nov 22 bluelady - I know how dedicated to ITFC you are - but much to your credit your recent posts have all had realism and balance about them - your comments reference the lack of service to whatever striker / strikers we play, are spot on. Playing Murray now would solve nothing, and only serve to disillusion him - however he is one who must stay at the Club - any future for this Club must be around such young players. Complimented by the odd experienced player of course. Let's all hope whatever Manager, Jewell or otherwise - sorts it very soon.

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newboy added 20:18 - Nov 22 It doesnt matter what the youngsters do this club is no longer a place for them to be. A poor choice of manager has killed off any academy hopes and just leaves them playing to impress any other clubs watching in the hope they can get out. And while we are all saying Murray is or is not the answer perhaps it should be noted that we coud not score until he came on did he provide his own service too. The only thing that will put this club right now is a REAL manager who gets involved KNOWS what players are at the club and has the knowledge and people skills to deal with them.

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Surco72 added 20:40 - Nov 22 newboy .. i can understand peoples frustrations at the recent run of form although everyone seemed more than happy during our good run ,but blaming Jewell for killing off our academy hopes is ridiculous , was it Jewell who got rid of Garvan,Clark,Bowditch,Haynes,Trotter,Rhodes ,most of which seem to be doing well at other clubs ? Who are you referring to Brown ,Eastman ,who are struggling to get in low level sides ,Peters who is average in a poor Bournemouth side signed as a right back and already replaced ? Or oConnor who two managers who see him every day dont think he is good enough and when made available for loan has had no takers ? We are not a long way away from being a good side in this league whatever the doom and gloom merchants say and a few good additions in January could make all the difference added to some of the youngsters pushing forward for a place , give Jewell a season and judge him after that rather than blaming him for every fault in the world

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icetruckiller added 20:56 - Nov 22 Now let's play some of the youngsters on Saturday. Can't be as bad as the last 4 matches.
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fourth added 21:07 - Nov 22 Very good. Youth is demanding presence at first team level. Let them in. The January deadline for ptomotion is already past. Let us BUILD.
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bobble added 21:13 - Nov 22 too young and spotty
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fourth added 21:23 - Nov 22 PJ has brought in some amazing players. Largely they are a bit mature and injury prone. It really hasn't worked. It might have, but it hasn't. So the mix needs to be adjusted, bringing in some younger players now to cover the January exits; PJ needs to get fit. His fitness coaches need to be of the best. So I agree with Surco72. I should really like to see the Captain changed for a month. Leadbitter needs a couple of months relearning his trade. I think.

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saffronblue added 09:33 - Nov 23 Hang on, PJ tried youth at the start of the season - remember Smith, Ainsley. You were all screaming for his head when we were getting stuffed by Peterborough. He has brought in Cresswell & JET, has started to play Carson now he is back in shape and has brought in Chopra. Bullard was fans player of the year. I agree that Leadbitter is a crap captain and should be dropped and that we could do with a bit more energy and creativity in the centre of the park or a decent holding midfielder to allow Bullard to put further up the park where he is most dangerous (Andrews plays the role for Ireland or Hyam did it beginning of last year). I think with a bit of juggling we are only one solid Centre Half (or a fit Sonko) from being a decent side.

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